Paddy has been sown over an area of 380,000 acres across the province out of which 40 percent area is under Basmati, 37 percent under Sela, 7 percent under Coarse and two percent under Hybrid rice. This was disclosed at a meeting of the Rice Working Group held at Kala Shah Kaku Rice Research Institute (KKRRI) here on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial while progressive farmer Jahangir Khan Tareen attended it as special guest.

The meeting was informed that a production of 4 million tons of paddy is expected in this season. It was also informed that till date the research institute has developed 25 varieties having resistance against different diseases. Speaking on this occasion, the Minister urged that such new varieties should be developed which have no parallel in taste and aroma to export these to the international markets.

Speaking on this occasion, Jahangir Tareen claimed that the government is paying special attention towards rice export and the federal government is launching a special project for rice at a cost of Rs 4 billion. The project is aimed at developing special varieties having resistance against diseases and more per acre yield. Punjab Minister Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial thanked Jahangir Tareen for participating as special guest and providing guidelines to develop agriculture. Others who attended the meeting included Secretary Agriculture Punjab Wasif Khursheed, DG Agriculture (Extension) Dr Anjum Ali, DG (Research) Dr Abid Mahmood and members of the Rice Working Group.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019